I Need You
By
Nicole
Disclaimer: I dont own the Twilight Saga Stephenie Meyer does. Summary: In 1917, Jasper Whitlock, a standup southern gentleman was in love with Mary Alice Brandon, the daughter of a wealthy man. What happens when his vision of his future crumbles when the girl he loves is out of his reach? AU/AH
I Need You
Chapter 1: No Amount of Time
In Texas, a young man by the age of twenty-one was slowly exiting the plane he was brought home in. Looking over, he saw his parents there waiting for him. "Jasper," Helen Whitlock whispered. Walking over, she carefully embraced her son.
"Mom, I'm not going to break," he quipped lightly, hugging his mother back.
Pulling away, Helen placed her hands on her son's face with tears in her eyes. "You look so exhausted," she whispered.
"I am a bit tired," he replied.
Frank walked over, embracing his son. Jasper hugged his father back with a sigh when he saw the car door open. "Uncaw Jaspaw!" a voice called. Looking up, he smiled as a two-year-old made a mad dash for him.
"This can't be little Lily," he insisted, lifting the toddler up.
"Hi," she greeted smiling.
"Hi, wow have you gotten big," he commented.
"I'm dis many," the toddler replied, holding up two fingers.
"Wow two," he told her smiling.
Pressing a kiss to her forehead, he hugged his niece tight when he saw his sister and brother-in-law walking over. "Emmett, Rosie," he said smiling as he hugged them each while still leaning against the rail.
"Nice to see you Jazz," Emmett greeted, embracing his brother-in-law and patted him on the back.
"Thanks," Jasper answered.
Sighing, he grabbed the crutch beside him while holding his niece's hand with his free hand. As he made his way past his parents, he didn't see the tearful expression on his mother's face. Helen held her hand up to her lips with tears in her eyes to see that her son's leg was so horribly damaged from the war that he had to be sent home.
Emmett helped his friend into the car and the family drove off once everyone was situated. "You gots my pictaw?" Lily asked anxiously.
"Yes I do," Jasper replied as he reached into his jacket and pulled out the drawing the little girl did for him.
Lily beamed from ear to ear before snuggling up to her uncle. "How's your leg son?" Frank asked. Jasper shrugged a little.
"It's sore, but I'll live," he replied.
Jasper sat back, closing his eyes as he relaxed in the back of his father's car.
When they arrived home, Frank opened the door. "Here let me help you out son," he insisted.
"I can do it father," Jasper replied as he slowly got out of the car.
Rosalie was watching her twin with tears in her own eyes. Emmett kept his arm around her waist, kissing the side of her head while Jasper hobbled into the house.
Once he was finally able to sit down, Helen hurried over to him. "Here, let me prop your leg up," she insisted.
"Just be very careful, it's so sore I'm waiting for it to fall off," he quipped.
Smiling comfortingly at him, she carefully lifted his leg up and placed it on a pillow. Jasper tilted his head back, letting out a deep breath. "What did the doctor say?" she asked.
"Lots of rest, but the knee is gone permanently," he replied.
He let out a sigh. "I'll be walking with a limp for good," he told her.
"My poor child," she whispered.
She kissed the top of his head, stroking his blond hair before leaving him alone to rest. As happy Jasper was to be home, he couldn't help but feel the aching pain tugging at his heart. No amount of time could heal this wound. Letting out a shaky sigh, he reached into his jacket, and pulled out another envelope.
Opening it, he reread the letter's contents for what could've been the hundredth time. The letter was worn and a little torn at the top, showing that he had constantly folded and unfolded this letter. Even the letting was a bit smudged.
April 14th, 1916 Dearest Jasper, The last thing I ever wanted to do was hurt you. My heart is breaking while I write this letter to you. I wish you weren't fighting a war, this way it probably would make things a little easier than they are now. No…I take that back…even if you were here this wouldn't be easy to say. This is the hardest thing I ever had to say. Jasper, I am engaged to be married. My parents have arranged it before I could even stop it. His name is Demetri Volturi, his father is a business partner of my father's. Oh Jasper…this is the most heart wrenching thing I wish I never had to experience. Without you has already been torture, but now being forced into this marriage is even worse. Know this Jasper, my heart is yours and yours alone. No matter what, I love you. You are my soul mate, I know this. I know in my heart that you are the only one who dwells there. No one can take what we had away. I will treasure it always. My heart is yours, Jasper Whitlock. I will love you until forever fades. Love Always, Alice Brandon
Jasper let out a heavy sigh when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Looking up, he saw Rosalie standing behind him. Folding the letter, he placed it back in his shirt pocket. "Did you see her?" he asked.
"I did," she replied softly as she sat beside him.
Closing his eyes, he dragged his fingers through his hair. "Jasper she was miserable, she put on that fake smile that we both know she only uses when she's trying to mask how she's truly feeling," she told him.
"And him?" he asked, feeling bile rise in his throat.
"I only met him briefly," she replied softly.
Rosalie knew her brother was heartbroken and hugged him tight. Slowly, he hugged her back with a heavy sigh. "I'm so sorry, Jasper," she whispered, rubbing his back gently.
"It's not your fault, besides it's too late. Doesn't matter what we think anymore," he replied.
Grabbing his crutch, he went upstairs while his twin sat on the sofa watching him go with sad eyes. Emmett walked over to his wife, resting his hand on her shoulder. "He'll be alright," he assured her.
"I hope so, Emmett, I truly do," she answered, resting her hand over his.
Making his way to his old room, Jasper lied down on the bed and closed his eyes. Hearing a knock on the door, he let out a frustrated sigh. "Yes?" he asked.
"Jasper, supper will be ready shortly," Helen informed.
The young man stared at the ceiling. "Mother, I'm quite tired from my trip, would it be alright if I just skipped dinner?" he asked.
"Of course sweetheart, are you sure you're alright?" she asked.
"I'll be alright mother, I assure you," he answered.
"Alright, well, I'll set up a plate for you to have when you're rested," Helen told her son.
"Thank you," he answered.
Hearing her footfalls heading down the stairs, Jasper stared up at the ceiling again. He found himself punching his bed again. It had been a year since he had received this letter and the pain was hitting him worse than the cannonball that landed by him.
He would rather go through the pain of the surgeries the doctors performed to save his leg as well as attempting to save his knee than think of never seeing his beautiful Alice again. Letting out a heavy sigh, he closed his eyes as he attempted to get some rest from his long journey home, but his dreams were plagued.
Alice was staring at him tearfully as he prepared to leave. "Promise me you'll come back to me," she said softly. Putting his duffle down, he pulled her close to him. "I promise you, I'll come home to you alive. As soon as I'm home I'm going to marry you," he told her smiling. Seeing her green eyes light up, he leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her lips. Kissing him back, she placed her hands on the sides of his neck. "Jasper, it's time to go," his friend, Peter, insisted. Pulling away, Jasper stroked her face gently. "I love you," he told her. "I love you," she answered with tears in her eyes. Grabbing his duffel again, he hurried to catch up with his troop.
His eyes snapped open and he sat up with a shaky breath. That was the last time he saw his beloved Alice. "Never again," he whispered. Letting out a sigh, he lied back down on his pillows, feeling the exhaustion begin to take over him. He would love nothing more than to just sleep. As long as Alice didn't plague his dreams, he could sleep. Shaking his head in attempt to rid her image from his head, he moved onto his good side and closed his eyes, falling into a now dreamless sleep. Welcome home indeed.
